The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today present the reality of our difficulty, at times, to be deeply committed to our mission as followers of Jesus.
The reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah describes the Suffering Servant’s Mission.
* [49:1–7] The second of the four “servant of the Lord” oracles (cf. note on 42:1–4).
* [49:1] Gave me my name: designated me for a special task or mission (cf. Jer 1:5).
* [49:3] Israel: the servant is identified with the people of Israel as their ideal representative; however, vv. 5–6 seem to distinguish the servant from Israel.
* [49:6] The servant’s vocation extends beyond the restoration of Israel in order to bring the knowledge of Israel’s God to the rest of the earth; cf. Lk 2:32. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 49, n.d.)
Psalm 71 is a prayer for Lifelong Protection and Help.
* [Psalm 71] A lament of an old person (Ps 71:9, 18) whose afflictions are interpreted by enemies as a divine judgment (Ps 71:11). The first part of the Psalm pleads for help (Ps 71:1–4) on the basis of a hope learned from a lifetime’s experience of God; the second part describes the menace (Ps 71:9–13) yet remains buoyant (Ps 71:14–16); the third develops the theme of hope and praise. (Psalms, PSALM 71, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus foretells His betrayal and Peter’s denial.
* [13:1–19:42] The Book of Glory. There is a major break here; the word “sign” is used again only in Jn 20:30. In this phase of Jesus’ return to the Father, the discourses (Jn 13–17) precede the traditional narrative of the passion (Jn 18–20) to interpret them for the Christian reader. This is the only extended example of esoteric teaching of disciples in John. (John, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)
Barbara Dilly reflects that without learning to trust in the Lord, she would have had no hope, and her strength would have been so easily spent. Now, in her older years, because she can see that God was always there to give her strength, she can proclaim the wondrous deeds of God and declare God’s justice with much greater confidence. She is very grateful God gave her the time to figure that out.
So, as I reflect on the words of Jesus in the Gospel reading, I can appreciate even more that Jesus is showing us how to trust in the strength of God even as we approach death, no matter what our age. Jesus knew that he would be betrayed and that he would be crucified. But he did not see his life as useless nor his work in vain because he had to suffer and die at such a young age. Jesus trusted in God to give him the strength to live out his life as he was called to do. And Jesus asks me, as he did Peter, whether I can do the same. As I get older, I am more confident that I can do that because I can trust in God’s strength to help me be a light that shows the Lord’s salvation to others. I pray today for continued hope, trust and strength for me and all who take refuge in the Lord. (Dilly, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Fight sin and put up with trials,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things." (excerpt from Commentary on Psalm 59,5) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 13:21-33, 36-38 comments that Judas betrays the Lord, while Peter denies even knowing him. Later, when he realized what he had done, Judas “deeply regretted” having sold out the Lord (Matthew 27:3). And when Peter faced up to his act of denial, he “began to weep bitterly” (26:75). But as similar as their stories are, they end very differently. Judas gave in to despair, but Peter found hope through Jesus’ mercy.
Like Peter, you have a group—the Church! It’s not perfect, just as the apostles weren’t perfect. But it’s ready to support you and hold you in prayer. It’s where you can join other believers who are seeking healing, holiness, and a closer relationship with Jesus. It’s the place where you can experience the prayer and loving concern of brothers and sisters in the Lord—and where you can offer the same compassion and prayer. How blessed we are to be called together by Christ!
“Jesus, thank you for giving us each other. Lord, teach us how to live together in your love!” (Meditation on John 13:21-33, 36-38, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler discusses the mission of the Suffering Servant and the need to trust God in bringing the message of salvation to Israel and the pagan people. In John, Judas is identified as Jesus' betrayer and the dualistic choice between the light of life and the dark of death is declared. Friar Jude reminds us that, in John, the Hour of Glory is on the Cross, where Jesus' love is most visible.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, and CAC teacher James Finley discuss why the Jonah story has been transformational for them. Dominican priest and poet Paul Murray considers how Jonah’s journey of transformation is one that all of us must undergo.
But to learn this lesson, really to learn it, we need, like Jonah, to undergo the grace and mystery of bewilderment. Of course, we need many other graces as well—for example, the grace to sit still, the grace to meditate, and the grace and the energy to work for peace and to fight for justice. But, sometimes, it is only in the midst of the “tempest,” in the heart of a storm of circumstances which we can’t control, that we come finally to realise something of the wonderful mystery of God, and realise also how far beyond anything we can imagine or hope for are [God’s] plans both for ourselves and for the entire world. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)
The infinite mercy of God is revealed in the restoration of our relationship with Jesus in a deeper way when we accept His invitation to return to Him.
References
Dilly, B. (2023, April 4). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/040423.html
Isaiah, CHAPTER 49. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/49?1
John, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/13?21
Meditation on John 13:21-33, 36-38. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/04/04/644457/
Psalms, PSALM 71. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/71?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Merciful God. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-merciful-god-2023-04-04/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 4, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=apr4
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